In my work, this reduction of product lifespan is called “quality control”. As in: “the customer does not get quality they didn’t pay for”.
Once upon a time, to make products meet the warranty dates, they were simply given a budget and overbuilt as much as money would allow.
After the Japanese car manufacturers in the 1970s showed the world what could be done with quality control, the 80s and 90s were spent applying this to other industries. And they got good at it. The joke about machines now lasting for exactly the warranty period plus 24 hours isn’t really a joke - not overbuilding is a goal that’s been thoroughly reviewed and tested by the manufacturers’ quality control departments.
I believe this is a big part of why I can still use my grandmother’s hand-mixer when I make cakes, and I fully expect its replacement to last five years tops.
